Some of the Excellent Dining in Gaza.

If Gaza has been closed to foreigners for a while now, why is 'conflict tourism' on the rise there?

This is a growing trend of mostly Westerners, that want to go there and in essence say "I've been to Gaza" and stand infront of IDF troops asking
them to stop shooting when they are obviously engaged in an operation.

In my opinion, 'peace activists' are more harm than good. They are 'busy bodies' that stick their noses into affairs that do not concern them
under the guise of caring for all humanity. Which is total BS.

How many of you would trade the life of your Mother, Father, Son or Daughter for 1 billion humans?

There's your answer.

We are a selfish species, a warring species, as our primal instinct dictates that we are competative; seek to 'stand out amongst the crowd'. We envy
what we do not have, we are quick to judge and catagorise people other than ourselves.

We are the problem, war is inevitable, aslong as there is a struggle for power (and there will always be) we will never have true world peace.

So pressure groups, humanitarians, peace activists all serve to slow and interfere with the process of war, thus, in many cases, resulting in more
deaths in the long term than would have been lost had a military done what a military is designed to do.

Are there problems there? Of course but let's not throw out all reason and believe that there is no food and no water and that everyone is starving
unless people break a blockade and bring them food. That's not the case at all.

Water is another issue for Palestinians.
The MAIN issue is OCCUPATION/DICTATORSHIP.
If we let this continue, we'll all be waiting for the governments'
permission just to take a piss in the lavatory.
Admit it, . . . to deny medical supplies, wheelchairs, antibiotics,
bandages, ambulances etc, is extremely petty and low of israel.
BTW
Why are israeli's and anti-Pales. so envious of a
wonderful restaurant ? Still eating those old
Mac's burgers ?
Is there so much envy, that you need to
block MEDICAL AID ? ? ?

Yep, stock photos are used over and over again making a single bad scenario appear as if it were an every day occurrence. Both sides do this but the
ratio of bombed out buildings and crying children to the reality of what Gaza is is horribly skewed in the media. The reason of course is that there
are billions of dollars on the line.

These photos of Gaza will not generate billions in aid. Look through his galleries. Check out the refugee
camp photos and the photos of outdoor Gaza views. Hardly what you'll see in the standard news article. No one claims it's easy to live there but
it's not as you're being told it is.

It's not honest to show the crying images of children posed by bombed buildings in every discussion of Gaza. It would be equally dishonest if I
posted the below photo in every discussion of Gaza. Yes, this photo is from Gaza.

Here :
Orthodox Jews who support Palestine, and the Aid Flotilla,
no need to go on about that supporting Palestine is anti-semetic-garble.
(The 'Stalinists' are the one's who are causing all the trouble)

*A group of Jewish activists in Germany are preparing to send an aid ship to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli-imposed blockade for
three years.
The group, which is the German branch of the European Jews for a Just Peace, plans to send the aid ship by the end of July. Peace Aid Ship

Excuse us ignorant peons for believing that the entire Palestine state was not carpet bombed into absolute ruin. I truly had no idea that there were
still buildings still standing over there. Seriously, were those trees I saw in one of those pictures? Why, I had no idea the West Bank had any
sort of breathable air left, let alone people who aren't missing multiple limbs! Why doesn't Fox News tell me this?

Is that what you wanted to hear? Good. How seriously brain damaged do you think all of us are? Do you truly think we can't comprehend that there are
comfortable areas in Palestine? Pick out any single post in this thread which states this. Or better yet, quit trying to prop up your straw man
and reply to my post.

I don't even know what I'm still doing replying in this thread. I don't normally spend so much time engaging in fruitless debate, I feel its bad
energy to surround your thoughts with this nonsense. I mean, I'm debating people who believe Israel is sending aid into Palestine.

What exactly does "70% of Gaza is food dependent" mean? That they require some subsidy assistance or that they get 100% of their food from
government hand outs? There could be many levels of assistance in between as well. It isn't clear in the information that you provided what that
phrase actually means.

I know that unemployment is a big problem in Gaza. Are then unemployed paid a unemployment wage and given food or are they paid and expected to buy
their own food? Would both examples put them in the 70% bracket or just one?

This is a growing trend of mostly Westerners, that want to go there and in essence say "I've been to Gaza" and stand infront of IDF troops
asking them to stop shooting when they are obviously engaged in an operation.

What trend, have any sources to back up this claim of a 'trend'?

They are 'busy bodies' that stick their noses into affairs that do not concern them under the guise of caring for all humanity. Which is
total BS.

Maybe in your world where only me me me matters would you come to that conclusion, some people out there still have compassion for the rest of
humanity.

So pressure groups, humanitarians, peace activists all serve to slow and interfere with the process of war, thus, in many cases, resulting in
more deaths in the long term than would have been lost had a military done what a military is designed to do.

Can you show any source that backs up this claim or did you just pull that our of your bum?

Here is the direct quote from the pdf, which I have no doubt you haven't read:

In May 2008, after nearly a year of the blockade, over 70 per cent of Gazans were living below the US$1 per day poverty line, and following
Operation ―Cast Lead in January 2009, 75 per cent of Gaza’s population were food insecure (OCHA, 2009a).

I apologize, my wording was bit off before. So what I am inclined to believe from this report is that 3 out of 4 Palestinians have to worry about
where their food will be coming from, if any, in the long term. Unless of course you can give me another definition for 'insecure'. If you still are
having a hard time understanding this statement I suggest either picking up a dictionary or getting in contact with the International Labour
Organization and asking them specifically.

Beyond this all you can do is read the pdf document. Here is just a snippet of the Preface, to get you started:

This year, in accordance with the mandate given by the International Labour Conference, I again sent high-level missions to the occupied Arab
territories, Israel, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Arab Labour Organization and the League of Arab States in Cairo, to report on the situation of
Arab workers in occupied territories. The delegations enjoyed the full cooperation of all concerned parties, for which I am very grateful. This
reaffirms the broad support that exists for the values embodied by the ILO.
My representatives held in-depth discussions with a wide range of representatives of the Palestinian Authority, employers’ and workers’
organizations in the occupied Arab territories, constituents in Israel and in the Syrian Arab Republic, representatives of the United Nations and
international and non-governmental organizations. All provided valuable information and insights on the situation of workers in the occupied Arab
territories, which have guided the preparation of this Report. As always, the mission conducted its fact-finding work with a deep sense of commitment
and impartiality.

Here's a direct link to the source
pdf. Don't worry, this link is safe, I know how much you and Skyfloating detest us posting links trying to inform your opinion on the matter.

This is a growing trend of mostly Westerners, that want to go there and in essence say "I've been to Gaza" and stand infront of IDF troops
asking them to stop shooting when they are obviously engaged in an operation.

To tackle your question regarding proof of the type of tourism I mentioned, please view the link and video below.

The 'war tourism' trend that is growing, has shown the likes of US citizens, no doubt, inspired by the actions of Rachel Corrie, confronting IDF
troops, whilst operating in engagements to ask them "why are you doing this"? and standing infront of their rifles. For many on this forum, it may
seem like a righteous activity and be considered as 'brave'.

The actions of 'peace activists' like Rachel Corrie, can serve to encourage the Palestinians to fight back, therefore enduring even more loss as a
consequence just to prove a point.

In my opinion, 'peace activists' are more harm than good. They are 'busy bodies' that stick their noses into affairs that do not concern
them under the guise of caring for all humanity. Which is total BS.

How many of you would trade the life of your Mother, Father, Son or Daughter for 1 billion humans?

The second sentence you quoted me on was related to the following hypothetical question beneath it, which I would be curious to hear your answer to,
if you wish to answer it.

Originally posted by dbates
It's not honest to show the crying images of children posed by bombed buildings in every discussion of Gaza. It would be equally dishonest if I
posted the below photo in every discussion of Gaza. Yes, this photo is from Gaza.

Then you must be rather confident that you could portray say...the US in the same light as others portray Gaza? If it all just depends on what
pictures you use because the reality is not nearly as bad as you claim, then how about one post showing the bombed out buildings and streets with
bodies and screaming children from all over the US? Or, is it possible you are missing your own point on purpose?

We forget the media's obsession with morbidity when it suits our argument.

I myself, would argue that most posters on ATS do not believe the 'official' explanation given by the US government and supported by the MSM of the
events that occured on 9/11.

Why is it now, that the majority on the Middle East forum, suddenly believe everything that the MSM tell them, when it is in regard to the alleged
murdering and targeting of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip by the IDF?

In my opinion, it is related to the International Bankers (alot of whom are Jews) theory, that has become more mainstream as a result of 9/11
conspiracy theories.

I am worried isnt ATS about denying ignorance? The whole world know the conditions in Gaza. Hell only a few days ago Israel allowed COOKIES and SODA
to be lifted from the list of blocked goods.
I dont mind moderators giving opinions and showing all sides in a debate, but such comments are very uneducated or some form of propaganda.

To tackle your question regarding proof of the type of tourism I mentioned, please view the link and video below.

Just to clarify:

That story takes place in Israel, overlooking Gaza.

Gaza has been effectively closed to the outside world for years.

Hi vox,

Please find below, an example of the state of access to the Gaza Strip for travellers.

This Advice is current for Sunday, 13 June 2010.

We strongly advise you not to travel to the Gaza Strip because of the extremely dangerous and unpredictable security situation.

The Palestinian Authority requires all travellers to the Gaza Strip to register their movements. We recommend you contact the Australian
Representative Office in Ramallah to assist with this process.

If, in spite of our advice not to travel to the Gaza Strip or the West Bank, you decide to do so, you should be aware that the ability of the
Australian Government to provide consular services to Australians in these areas is extremely limited.

The way I understand it is that you are free to apply for the chance to go all you like. That does not mean you will get there. People have already
posted that they have tried and been denied. Have you tried? I can apply for a CC permit where I live. People have them so I know it is possible. I
also know for a fact that I will get turned down. There are subtle differences between being allowed to apply to try and being allowed. I am curious
what steps you have taken to secure travel over there or are you just posting what you find online?

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